Man, I am really growing from all the mistakes I've made

 

A life of learning, growth and rigorous study... sort of.

The Wrong Kind of Risk And The Right Kind of Risk

When I was young I was willing to take risks but they were often the wrong kinds of risks. In other words, they were risks that were frequently rooted in an unearned and unwarranted self-confidence. They were often risks I was unprepared to learn from due to a lack of maturity, knowledge and self-awareness and, therefore, the risks were not as helpful as they could have been.

Now that I’m older I find I am more reluctant to take risks—I naturally gravitate toward the comfort zone. But now the risks I am unwilling to take are, ironically, the right kind of risks. In other words, they are risks that are necessary for me to keep learning, stretching and growing.

I’m hoping to get this risk thing perfected—avoiding the wrong kinds of risks and diving headlong into the right kinds of risks—any day now.

Try Something New

Most people have a preference for the status quo. We tend to like that with which we are familiar. This means that we can be resistant to change. Often, though, new learning and growth are found in new experiences. So let's not be afraid to bust loose and try something new. God may be getting ready to teach us something we never knew before.

The Importance of Helping To Develop The Gifts of Others

When we see talents, aptitudes, skills and possibilities in others and help them recognize those things in themselves we are assisting in the development of that person. This is an important part of what it means to live responsibly. Interestingly, this kind of action which helps others is also helpful to our own growth and maturity.

Testing And Trials Produce Growth

Living through a difficult trial or time of testing can be frightening and stressful.  It goes without saying that these times are not fun.  However, after we have lived some life most of us come to realize that—even though they are unpleasant—these are the times in which our faith becomes very basic: we are either trusting in Christ or we are not.  We get to the essence of our faith.  These are also times in which we experience the greatest growth.

Growth Is Uncomfortable

We often feel uncomfortable and uncertain—maybe even a little bit fearful—when we are growing and making progress because growth requires that we stretch and take new unfamiliar actions.  But as we know, growth is an important part of being fully alive.  So, the challenge is to feel uncomfortable but move forward anyhow.

Maturity Or Comfort?

God is more concerned about our growth, development and maturity than He is about our comfort.

Growth Requires Risk

Growth requires risk, in fact, significant growth and development does not occur unless we are willing to stretch in ways that take us out of our comfort zone—including our comfort zone regarding other people’s opinions.  “If you live in fear of what others will do or say, you aren’t going to take the risks necessary to grow and develop as a person.” --Author Tim Lavender.

Will There Be Growth And Progress In Heaven?

Here’s an interesting question to ponder:  Will there be some type of growth and progress in heaven?  Christian philosopher, Peter Kreeft says, “In heaven our humanity is fulfilled, not negated, so I think there will be endless progress.”  Then Kreeft points out how God is necessary for such a thing, “But for endless progress, you need an infinite object. That's why you need God.”